Grassroots Commentary
Demonizing Chick-fil-A
The mainstream media, and the political left, are demonizing Chick-fil-A because, in response to a recent interview question posed by a Christian publication, the company CEO said that the company does not sanction gay marriage. As a result, the company's business and political enemies are making all kinds of unfounded accusations. The mayors of Boston and Chicago have even threatened to bar Chick-fil-A from opening any new franchises in their cities, and others on the left are accusing the company of being rabidly anti-gay, and supporting rabidly anti-gay organizations.
Chick-fil-A is a private, family-owned company. No stockholders. No one to report to but the private individuals who own the company. The CEO was expressing what the ownership of the company believes. The company is very charitable, and, because the company was founded in 1946 on Christian principles by a Christian family, they use a lot of their profits to support Christian (not 'anti-gay'), and what they deem to be worthwhile secular, organizations. Most Christian organizations define marriage scripturally, as occurring between a man and a woman.
The company's business philosophy has been, and continues to be: "The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every patron with honor, dignity and respect -- regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender." These are the organizations that most of Chick-fil-A's contributions support:
• Marriage & Family Legacy Fund
• Fellowship Of Christian Athletes
• National Christian Foundation
• Focus On The Family
• Eagle Forum
• Exodus International
• Family Research Council
Every one of these organizations, Christian-based and secular, is well-respected. Focus on the Family is possibly the most well-respected and followed (with the possible exception of the Salvation Army) Christian organization on the globe. And none of these organizations were formed as 'anti-gay' groups. Many of them, being Christian by nature, do not support the concept of gay marriage. Perhaps 1% of their focus even involves the idea of homosexuality. That hardly qualifies these groups to be labeled as rabidly 'anti-gay', except in the minds of those with an agenda. If the politically correct are so up in arms about Chick-fil-A's 'anti-gay' (actually Christian) agenda, then why are they not boycotting the gas stations that sell gas obtained from Muslim nations who outright require the execution of gay people (which represents the majority of gas stations in this country)? When you compare the fact that Chick-fil-A supports several Christian organizations (which, by definition, cannot sanction a marriage between other than a man and a woman) with the fact that many of the nation members of OPEC require the execution of anyone discovered to be homosexual, where should most of the outrage on the part of the politically correct be? And yet it isn't, simply because their attacks on Christianity would not be furthered by publicizing the practices of OPEC nations. In this case, 'tolerance' appears to be situational and agenda-driven.
This is a sterling example of the way in which the political left is actively seeking to control the political debate in America 2012. CEO and President Dan Cathy's interview took place on the Baptist Press, an internet publication that circulates to 40 state Baptist newspapers.
Two observations:
(1) Since when do the mainstream media report on anything that is printed in such a minor, non-mainstream publication, let alone to this degree of feverishness?
(2) Why has so much attention been paid to a few sentences of a lengthy interview?
I'll tell you why: Chick-fil-A is a Christian, conservative-based example of a successful business enterprise -- the bane of the leftist political philosophy. And this is simply another example of the left's hatred of such success, as well as their refusal to allow Christians their beliefs. It accompanies many other recent political outrages that are seeking to subvert the Christian's personal rights, the most blatant of which was the president's decree earlier this year that Catholic institutions must provide birth control/abortion services.
Anyone who disagrees with the company's philosophy has every right to speak out, both privately and publicly, against it, and to refuse to patronize their establishments. But the current politically-motivated efforts to demonize a company's ownership simply because they do not embrace the concept of gay marriage amounts to the worst kind of extortion: "You must embrace the homosexual agenda, no matter your own personal religious beliefs, or we will destroy you."
14 Comments
Rick in North Carolina
Monday, July 30, 2012 at 8:26 PM
This is probably the best accounting of what the media and the left are doing to Chick-fil-A I've seen. Nice going, Joan and thankls for taking the time to tell it like it is. Too bad those that are demonizing Chick-fil-A in this manner have no idea of what they are doing. It is time the moral majority started speaking up here as you have. Thank you.
Joan Fischer in Pennsylvania
Monday, July 30, 2012 at 9:45 PM
Thank you, 'Rick in North Carolina'. Your kind words are appreciated, and your opinion on the controversy is one that I hope more and more of our countrymen embrace.
rab in jo, mo
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 8:18 AM
Let's remember to show our support for Chik-Fil-A with our wallets, not only August 1st, but beyond that day as well.
Like the cows say - "Eat mor chikin."
Cyndi in FL
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Hi Joan, well written and oh so true. i am sharing this and hope everyone reads it. Also, AL & I are celebrating our 31st wedding anniversay @
Joan Fischer in Pennsylvania
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Cyndi, happy anniversary! What better way to celebrate than by patronizing a business that supports your beliefs? :)
Cyndi in FL
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Chik-Fil-A on Aug 1st. We were going to go to a steak house but really wanted to support Chik-Fil-A.
wjm in Colorado
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Not just on one day, but every time you seek a quick sandwitch. Support real business by supporting those who champion real values. I hate to agree with anything Islam, but they may have the right idea in dealing with this perverted group of aberrant sick immoral sinners.
G N Hicks in AR
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 5:28 PM
Yes! Support Chik-Fil-Lay! I still believe the reason USA won WWII was that our soldiers going in to battle believed that God was on their side.... This is not the time to dismiss Him! If we do, there will be a terrible cost to this Nation.
Kathy in California
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 7:06 PM
Hi Joan:
I think you ought to send this article to several national newspapers! (The more liberal leaning ones probably won't print it, however.) This is an excellent and well written statement in support of Chick-fil-A; and without overemphasizing it, you also cover the fact that our country is being blatantly stripped of our Christian freedom.
Terrific commentary. I'm passing it along to a number of people.
Barry in Stevens, Pa
Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 5:45 AM
Joan,
I visited Chick-fil-A on Tuesday because I'm busy today. I was so encouraged to see so many young folks there. There were numerous HS kids, college age kids and young families. Additionally, the drive thru was lined up the entire time I was there. Perhaps there is yet hope for us if these folks can be motivated in other directions as well.
as an aside, I saw a young man with an artificial leg and assumed he was yet another victim of our sandbox struggle. I went over to say thank you to him and he informed me he had been hit by a car in 1997 and lost his leg as a result of that accident. He was a man of good humor though and we had a good laugh at my leap to conclusion.
Thanks for a great piece. You always hit the nail squarely on the head.
rippedchef in sc
Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 4:56 PM
this is where you and I are walking together,you espouse these views to interested person,they look at me and say "wadda you think"-I point at you and respond "what she said"
Tammy Jones in Nashville Tennessee
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 7:53 AM
Why is it that politcians and leftest want everyone to buy into allowing homosexuality to be "normal"? It is not normal. If all humans chose homosexuality over heterosexuality then none of us would be here. Come on people stop being stupid. Why don't they let the people vote on the issue instead of the politians that are suppose to be representing us? I say eat more chickn!
Kelly in Winston-Salem, NC
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 9:03 AM
Great article! As we all know...one of the 10 Commandments is to Love thy Neighbor.....just as Chik fil a serves all patrons with honor and dignity regardless of race, belief, creed, sexual orientation or gender......as any business should....people of the christian faith are NOT being good examples of Loving thy Neighbor which brings on a lot of flack. What would Jesus do? That is what people need to ask themselves. He Loves us all! That all being said.....I know a place that has awesome lemonade! When you are handed a lemon......make lemonade. Just sayn'. For God so loved the WORLD he gave his only son!
Proud Aryan Christian Patriot in Dixie
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 9:34 AM
I have no doubt that the fag lover OBUMMER and the rest of the MUSLIMS are behind this fag boycott. This boycott woud hav never happened if we had a strong white aryan in charge. These loosers are being paid by SOROS and SEIU and Bar'aq al Hussain Obumgo and its not surprising that these loosers are on drugs. We got to get that coon MUSLIM COMMUNIST SOCIALIST Obummer out of office and get someone smarter like Sarah Palin so she can fix things like she fixed alaska (yes she is smarter, Harvard isnt really that good of school anyway and he only got in because he's black, true story). I'm so sick and tired of this MUSLIM pResident not taking any action and ruining our reputation by cowtowing to these TERRORISTS in PAKISTAN. Maybe if we talk to our congressmen they will find a way to show his REAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE from KENYA (the one he submitted is a FAKE, true story). We need to have this tea party movement grow so that we can go back to the principles of our founding fathers. Allow slavery and segregation in certain states so that we can keep the minorities in line so they don't cause too much trouble because it worked in the past. TEA PARTY '12!